Bishop Joseph P. McFadden died unexpectedly while attending a meeting of the Catholic Bishops of Pennsylvania being held in Philadelphia, according to a news release issued Thursday morning. He was 65 years old.

He died unexpectedly while attending a meeting of the Catholic Bishops of Pennsylvania being held in Philadelphia, the news release sent by Joseph Aponick, director of communications of the Diocese of Harrisburg, stated.

While staying at a rectory McFadden awoke feeling ill and was taken to a hospital where he was pronounced dead at approximately 7:40 a.m. A cause of death has not yet been announced, according to the news release.

The governance of the Diocese of Harrisburg passed to the College of Consultors upon his death. They will have eight days to elect an administrator who will be in charge of the day-to-day operation of the diocese until a new bishop is appointed by the pope.

Bishop McFadden was the 10th Bishop of Harrisburg. He was appointed on June 22, 2010, by then Pope Benedict XVI. He was installed as Bishop of Harrisburg on Aug. 18, 2010, in St. Patrick Cathedral, Harrisburg.